Celebrate International Women’s Day With This Fierce Feminist Playlist!

It’s International Women’s Day, and what better way to celebrate all of the amazing women who have touched our lives, fought for change, and worked their asses off so that we can continue this fight, than by rocking out until the sun goes down? Don’t worry, we’ll wait…

Just 42 years ago, on March 8th, the United Nations began to recognize the already widespread International Women’s Day. Since then, countries around the world have taken this great day to honor the hard work and dedication that women show on the other 364 days of the year. This year, we’re celebrating by bringing you 42 songs from women who rock, roll, rap, and everything in between–all in the name of female empowerment!

The songs on this list were not chosen lightly. We Sirens took great care in picking songs that mean the world to us personally. Songs like Andra Day’s Rise Up, which will forever move me to tears. Though I’ve always loved this song, I never truly grasped the full meaning until after that fateful day in November. Back then, it felt like the world was a dark place to live. I listened to that song on repeat for days and held on to lines like “You can’t find a fighter, but I see it in you and we gon’ walk it out” when it felt like all was lost. Songs like Demi Lovato’s “Confident”, showed me what it meant to be confident in the face of anything–including oppression, silencing, and just your regular, run-of-the-mill hater.

Songs like Florence and the Machine’s “Shake It Out”, with lines like “and it’s hard to dance with the devil on you back, so shake him off” are also empowering in their own right. States our Siren sister, Ashley Perna, “I was drawn to What Kind Of Man when I was in an abusive relationship. The first time I heard “Shake It Out”, I cried–it was almost too hard to hear. After I left, though, the song sounded different. [It] is empowering to this day. It reminds me how strong, and how brave I really am. It also reminds me that my experience was not unique, and I can draw strength from other women who have lived through similar circumstances.”

Each of these songs is meant to empower, to encourage, to uplift, and, of course, to entertain. Whether you’re out fighting the good fight, taking a much needed day of rest during this historic Day Without Women, or showing your solidarity through you red threads, we salute you! Now sit back, bob your head, or dance around, you do you! Just enjoy!

Shae is a part-time Social Media Manager and a full-time fangirl. She enjoys reading, writing, and annoying her friends by talking about Hamilton. She has an unhealthy obsession with DC’s The Flash and spends way too much time watching superhero TV. She also really enjoys puns, which, she recognizes, is cli-Shae. She apologizes for making that joke and will now see herself out…